Supporting structure



Jul 19, 1960 D. L. BOHANNON SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1956 INVENTOR DAVID L. BOHANNON.

BY 411 a ATTORNEY Haw July 19, 1960 Filed Feb. 2, 1956 D. L. BOHANNON SUPPORTING STRUCTURE INVENTOR DAVID L. BOHANNON.

BYW

ATTORNEY July 19, 1960 D. L. BOHANNON 2,945,639

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 2, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

DAVID L. BOHANNON.

BY M? United States Patent SUPPORTING STRUCTURE David L. Bohannon, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Pneumafil Corporation, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 2, 1956, Ser. No. 563,015

7 Claims. 01. 242-131 This invention relates to an improved supporting structure, more particularly to a structural component of apparatus designed for supporting machine members and equipment, in situations where lint accumulations generally interfere with proper functioning of said machine members or equipment.

A variety of production processes and equipment have been evolved for the handling and fabrication of lint producing materials such as paper, fiberboard, textiles, and the like. In these processes, and in the employment of this equipment, many problems arise due to the presence of lint, which is thrown on by the materials handled and produces a fine dust or fly, in the ambient surroundings, which in settling interferes with the fabrication and handling of the materials involved. Production costs are increased as a result of the labor devoted to cleaning of the equipment, and the time periodically spent in shutting down the equipment for cleaning. The lint further produces deleterious effects on the products produced, as well as increasing fire and health hazards.

In the textile industry in the production of yarns, more particularly cotton yarns, the cotton fibers after being formed into roving are wound on bobbins which are thereafter supported on a creel from which the yarns are fed through the drafting rolls of a spinning frame. One of the problems arising in this spinning operation is the necessity of periodically cleaning the creel, of lint accumulated thereon so as to prevent interference with the bobbins and the passage of the roving therefrom to the draft ing rolls. Apparatus has been devised for directing a stream of air down over said creel to blow any foreign matter to the floor where it may be swept away. The conventional creel structure, however, retains a large lint accumulation which must be manually removed since it is not dislodged by the air blast.

It is with the above problems in mind that the present construction has been evolved, a construction providing an improved structural component for use in the formation of equipment such as machine members and their supports Which serves to minimize the accumulation of lint or other foreign matter on said equipment.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide an improved structural component for use in the formation of equipment for the handling of fabrication of lint producing materials.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel supporting structure for supporting the material supply of textile fabricating equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved creel for the spinning frames of cotton yarn fabricating equipment.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an imr proved creel which will facilitate the positioning of roving bobbins thereon.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved creel which will substantially eliminate the need for manual cleaning of the creel structure, of lint and other foreign matter.

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These and other objects of this invention which will become apparent from the following disclosure and claims are achieved by provision of a novel structural component having the shape of an upwardly directed air foil which functions to minimize the availability of any surface upon which lint or other foreign matter may accumulate. This structural component which may readily be fabricated by conventional extrusion processes is employed in the formation of any machine structure. A preferred embodiment of this invention will be hereinafter disclosed, illustrating how the novel structural component may be used in the formation of the bobbin supporting members of a spinning frame creel, so as to make said creel substantially lint-free and thereby minimize any maintenance costs involved in the cleaning thereof.

The specific constructional details of a preferred embodiment of this invention, and their mode of functioning will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a structural component embodying the hereindisclosed inventive concept; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a creel for support of roving bobbins on a spinning frame, said creel constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and employing the structural component illustrated in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a creel arrangement supporting four bobbins over four bobbins; and

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a creel arrangement supporting four bobbins over two bobbins.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals are employed in the various figures to designate like parts.

As best seen in Figure 1, the novel structural element 10, here provided comprises two downwardly divergent surfaces 11 and 12, meeting at an arcuate leading edge 13.

Where the structural component 10, is employed in the formation of a bobbin supporting creel structure 20, as best seen in Figure 2, it may be found desirable to form the structural component 10, with a horizontally extending elongate longitudinal slot 14, and a downwardly extending screw driver flange 15, the purpose of which will be made hereafter more apparent.

The creel 20, comprises a plurality of upwardly extending stanchions 21, suitably coupled to the framework of spinning frame S. In the illustrated embodiment, the stanchions 21, are shown as supported from the header duct H leading from flutes f, of the suction system applied to such spinning frame inducing the flow of air over the frame. Horizontal cross piece 22, formed in the airfoil shape similar to that of the hereindisclosed novel structural component, is provided at the top of stanchion 21. Supported on these cross pieces 22, are parallel bobbin supports, or supporting members 23. These bobbin supports are formed with a cross section as illustrated in Figure 1, and are provided with end caps 24, for closing off their ends when bobbin holders 26 of a type, such for example, as illustrated in copending application Serial No. 536,074, now abandoned, are employed. Roving rods 27, are hung on hangers 28, from cross piece 22. The supports 23, are hung from cross piece 22, by means of hanger clamps 29, which are most clearly seen in Figure 3.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate several alternative creel arrangements embodying the hereindisclosed inventive concept, employing the structural components illustrated in Figure 1.

In Figure 3, a bobbin supporting creel 30 is shown arranged to support :1 tier of four bobbins above a similarly spaced four bobbin tier. The stanchion 31, is shown as mounted on base 32, supported on the spinning frame samson. Cross pieces 33, similar to previously discussed cross pieces 22, are mounted on the stanchions 31. These cross pieces 33 are arranged one above the other and are made in an airfoil shape with the downwardly divergent surface having a greater extension at the midportion 34, of the cross piece, to permit the cantilever arrangement illustrated. Collar 35, provided with set screw 36, is formed in the cross piece casting to permit adjustable positioning on stanchion 31. Supported on these cross pieces 33, are parallel disposed bobbin supports 23, of the type illustrated and disclosed in connection with Figures 1 and 2. Hanger clamps 29, are employed for suspending the bobbin support from the cross pieces. Roving rods 27, hung on hangers 28, as previously discussed are provided.

The arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, provides means for supporting four bobbins over two. In this figure the stanchion 41, is shown arranged for positioning in connection with a header duct of the suction system applied to the spinning frame. Upper cross piece 33, is identical to the upper cross piece illustrated in Figure 3. Lower cross piece 43, however, is modified so as not to require the use of hanger clamps 29. This is accomplished by providing slots in the ends of the cross piece 33, and flattening a portion 44, thereof so as to permit support on said flattened portion 44, of the bobbin supports 23.

Operation When a creel structure of any of the above types is provided on the spinning frame, it will be observed that the bobbins may readily be positioned thereon, and removed therefrom with a minimum of expenditure of operators time and that the holder is protected by creel. Bobbin holders of the type disclosed in co-pending application Serial Number 536,074 are mounted to slide within the channel of bobbin supports 23 for engagement therein, as best seen in Figure 2. After the requisite number of bobbin holders 26, are positioned in the bobbin support 23, end caps 24, are fitted at the end of the bobbin sup port. It will be observed that screw driver flange 15, serves to engage in the slotted head of a screw employed to secure the bobbin holder in position.

The entire creel structure here provided is of an open construction, and as a result of the airfoil formation of the components of which said creel is formed, any accumulations of foreign matter upon the surfaces of said creel tend to be deflected therefrom. Where auxiliary air cleaning apparatus is employed, the air streams set up by said apparatus may more readily function to clean the creel.

Though the novel structural component here disclosed has been described as employed in conjunction with a creel for textile installation, it is apparent that the novel concept has applicability to a wide variety of apparatus where it is desired to form said apparatus so as to permit ready cleaning thereof.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and

it is desired to protect all embodiments of the hereindis- 7 closed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile apparatus for the processing of textile fibers having means for inducing the flow of air over the apparatus, a bobbin supporting creel comprising: a vertically extending stanchion; a horizontally extending supporting member supported on said stanchion, said supporting member having two downwardly divergent surfaces whereby foreign matter impinging on said supporting member is deflected therefrom and an air stream may readily be passed thereover to remove any lint or other foreign matter; and engaging means between said divergent surfaces from which a bobbin may be vertically depended.

2. A bobbin supporting creel comprising: a vertically extending stanchion; a crosspiece horizontally extending from said stanchion, said cross piece being in the shape of a wedgelike airfoil; and a horizontally extending supporting member supported by said crosspiece, said supporting member being in the shape of a wedgelike air foil having downwardly divergent surfaces, whereby foreign matter impinging on said member is deflected therefrom, and an air stream may readily be passed thereover to remove any lint or other foreign matter and supporting means between said divergent surfaces from which a bobbin may be depended. I,

3. A creel as in claim 2 in which said upper crosspiece supports a supporting member on each side of the stanchion.

4. A bobbin supporting creel comprising: a vertically extending stanchion; an upper crosspiece horizontally extending from said stanchion, said cross piece being in the shape of a wedgelike airfoil; a lower crosspiece horizontally extending from said stanchion, said cross piece being in the shape of a wedgelike airfoil; and horizontally extending supporting members supported by said crosspieces, said supporting members being in the shape of a wedgelike airfoil having downwardly divergent surfaces whereby foreign matter impinging on said member is deflected therefrom, and an air stream may readily be passed thereover to remove any lint or other foreign matter and supporting means between said divergent surfaces from which a bobbin may be depended.

5. A creel as in claim 4 in which said upper crosspiece supports two supporting members on each side of the stanchion.

6. A creel as in claim 5 in which said lower cross piece supports two supporting members on each side of the stanchion.

7. A bobbin supporting creel, comprising: a plurality of spaced vertically extending stanchions; a cross piece horizontally extending from each stanchion, said cross piece having a wedgelike airfoil shape; horizontally extending supporting members secured to, and extending between said cross pieces, said supporting members having a wedgelike airfoil shape with two downwardly divergent surfaces; inwardly directed flanges on said surfaces upon which a bobbin holder may be supported, whereby an air stream may be passed over the bobbin and creel to clean same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,193 Houghton Apr. 2, 1912 1,660,299 De Wolf Feb. 21, 1928 1,821,706 Hasbrouck Sept. 1, 1931 2,132,055 Stansfield Oct. 4, 1938 2,441,110 Cotchett May 4, 1948 2,758,439 Bradshaw Aug. 14, 1956 2,809,755 Martorello Oct. 15, 1957 

